EL AL News

New York, NY – February 25, 2013 – EL AL, Israel’s national airline, rang in the Purim holiday with its second annual National Hamantaschen Eating Championship in New York City. Hundreds of locals gathered at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (KJ) Synagogue on Sunday as they watched 20 amateur contestants devour dozens of hamantaschen for the chance to beat professional eating sensation, Jamie “The Bear” McDonald, and win a free flight to Israel.

In the five-minute eating competition, Jamie “The Bear” McDonald wowed fans as he beat last year’s world record, consuming 48 hamantaschen. Nathaniel Siev took first place among the 20 amateur contestants by devouring 34.5 hamantaschen and Dimitri “The Ukraine Train” Shchupak consumed a total of 33 hamantaschen, each winning a roundtrip ticket to Israel. Third and fourth place runner-ups, Kevin Sloan and Jake Zak, both received a $500 voucher toward their next flight to Israel for eating 24 hamantaschen each.